Heat-dissipating garment

ABSTRACT

A heat-dissipating garment includes a clothing main body that has a front portion, a rear portion, and a pair of side portions. The clothing main body is formed with at least two first channels respectively at the front and rear portions, two second channels respectively at the side portions, and a third channel connected to upper ends respectively of the first and second channels and in spatial communication therewith. Two first airflow guides are disposed respectively in the first channels. Two second airflow guides are disposed respectively in the second channels. Two fans correspond respectively to lower openings of the second airflow guides for producing airflow.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority of Taiwanese Application No. 103115829,filed on May 2, 2014.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a heat-dissipating garment.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In order to be environmentally friendly, a conventional heat-dissipatinggarment, such as a cooling suit disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,272,946, isconfigured for allowing a wear comfortable feeling with a low powerconsumption and a simple structure. The cooling suit includes a clothpart having an upper portion made of a highly air-permeable material,and having those portions other than the upper portion which are made ofa substantially air-impermeable material. Formed at a reverse surface ofthe cloth part are airflow passages between the cloth part and anundergarment. Provided at a lower portion of the cloth part are airoutlets for extracting air-streams within the airflow passages to theexterior. Provided at those positions of the reverse side of the clothpart, which correspond to the air outlets, are fans for forcibly causingthe air-streams within the airflow passages. Outside air is introducedinto the airflow passages by the fans through the upper portion of thecloth part, and the air-streams flow within the airflow pas sages in amanner substantially parallel to the wearer's body surface, so that thewearer's body is cooled.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to provide a heat-dissipatinggarment with a different heat-dissipating configuration.

Accordingly, a heat-dissipating garment of the present inventionincludes a clothing main body, at least two first airflow guides, twosecond airflow guides, two fans and a controller.

The clothing main body includes an outer layer and a lining. Theclothing main body has a front portion, a rear portion, and a pair ofside portions that are respectively connected between the front portionand the rear portion and between the front portion and the rear portion.The clothing main body is formed with at least two upright-extendingfirst channels, two upright-extending second channels and atransversely-extending third channel. The first channels are formedrespectively at the front portion and the rear portion between the outerlayer and the lining. The second channels are formed respectively at theside portions between the outer layer and the lining. The third channelis connected to upper ends respectively of the first and secondchannels, and is in spatial communication with the first and secondchannels.

The first airflow guides are disposed respectively in the firstchannels, and have respective lower openings. The second airflow guidesare disposed respectively in the second channels and have respectivelower openings. The fans correspond respectively to the lower openingsof the second airflow guides and produce airflow that flows through thelower openings of the second airflow guides into the second airflowguides toward the third channel, that flows through the third channeltoward the first airflow guides, and that is discharged from theclothing main body through the lower openings of the first airflowguides. The controller is electrically connected to the fans to controlrotational speed of the fans.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other features and advantages of the present invention will becomeapparent in the following detailed description of the embodiments withreference to the accompanying drawings, of which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic sectional view of a first embodiment of aheat-dissipating garment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary sectional side view of the first embodiment ofthe heat-dissipating garment for illustrating an outer layer, a liningand a plurality of protruding members;

FIG. 3 is a circuit block diagram of the first embodiment of theheat-dissipating garment;

FIG. 4 is a schematic sectional front view of the first embodiment forillustrating a front portion of the heat-dissipating garment;

FIG. 5 is a schematic sectional rear view of the first embodiment forillustrating a rear portion of the heat-dissipating garment;

FIG. 6 is a schematic sectional side view of the first embodiment forillustrating one of a pair of side portions of the heat-dissipatinggarment;

FIG. 7 is a schematic perspective view of a duct component of the firstembodiment;

FIG. 8 is a schematic perspective view of an engaging member of thefirst embodiment for engaging an external pipe;

FIG. 9 is a schematic perspective view of the first embodiment forillustrating the engaging member engaging the external pipe;

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary schematic view of the first embodiment forillustrating how the engaging member is disengaged from the externalpipe;

FIG. 11 is a schematic sectional view of the first embodiment forillustrating the heat-dissipating garment is connected to an airpurifying device.

FIG. 12 is a schematic sectional view of a second embodiment of aheat-dissipating garment of the present invention;

FIG. 13 is a fragmentary schematic perspective view of an air flow guideof the second embodiment;

FIG. 14 is a fragmentary sectional side view of the second embodimentfor illustrating the air flow guide attached to a lining; and

FIG. 15 is a schematic sectional front view of a third embodiment of aheat-dissipating garment of the present invention for illustrating afront portion of the heat-dissipating garment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

Before the present invention is described in greater detail, it shouldbe noted that like elements are denoted by the same reference numeralsthroughout the disclosure.

Referring to FIGS. 1 to 3, a first embodiment of a heat-dissipatinggarment according to the present invention is shown to include at leasta clothing main body 1, three first air flow guides 2, two second airflow guides 3, two fans 4 and a controller 5.

The clothing main body 1 includes an outer layer 11 and a lining 12. Theclothing main body 1 has a front portion 13, a rear portion 14, a pairof side portions 15 and a lower portion 16. The front portion 13 has afront-left part 131 and a front-right part 132. One of the side portions15 is connected between the front-left part 131 and the rear portion 14,and the other one of the side portions 15 is connected between thefront-right part 132 and the rear portion 14. The lower portion 16 isconnected among the front-left part 131, the front-right part 132, therear portion 14 and the side portions 15. The lining 12 is generallymade of a fabric with moisture-absorbing and fast-dryingcharacteristics.

The clothing main body 1 is formed with three upright-extending firstchannels 17, two upright-extending second channels 18, and atransversely-extending third channel 19. The first channels 17 areformed respectively at the front-left part 131, the front-right part 132and the rear portion 14 between the outer layer 11 and the lining 12.The second channels 18 are formed respectively at the side portions 15between the outer layer 11 and the lining 12. The third channel 19 isformed between the outer layer 11 and the lining 12, is connected toupper ends respectively of the first and second channels 17, 18, and isin spatial communication with the first and second channels 17, 18.

While the first and second channels 17, 18 extend vertically in thisembodiment, they may extend inclinedly in other embodiments, and thepresent invention should not be limited in this respect.

The first airflow guides 2 are disposed respectively in the firstchannels 17, and have respective lower openings 21. The second airflowguides 3 are disposed respectively in the second channels 18, and haverespective lower openings 31. The fans 4 are disposed in the lowerportion 16 of the clothing main body 1. The fans 4 correspondrespectively to the lower openings 31 of the second airflow guides 3 inposition. Each of the fans 4 has an airflow access 41 exposed out of theouter layer 11 of the clothing main body 1, and an air pipe 42 connectedto a corresponding one of the lower openings 31 of the second airflowguides 3. The airflow access 41 allows airflow to flow through the airpipe 42 and the lower opening 31 into the second airflow guide 3 towardthe third channel 19. Then, the airflow directed into the third channel19 flows through the third channel 19 toward the first airflow guides 2in the first channels 17, and is discharged from the clothing main body1 through the lower openings 21 of the first airflow guides 2.

Referring to FIGS. 1, and 4 to 6, the layout of the third channel 19 isconfigured in a manner that, when a wearer wears the heat-dissipatinggarment of this embodiment, the third channel 19 extends along the bodyparts that are likely to perspire heavily, such as the chest, the back,the armpits, etc. Accordingly, the perspiration excreted through theskin will be absorbed by the lining 12 and infiltrates into the thirdchannel 19 through the lining 12. The moisture and heat generated by thewearer will be carried by the airflow produced by the fans 4 to flowthrough the third channel 19 toward the first airflow guides 2 so as tobe discharged from the clothing main body 1 through the lower openings21 of the first airflow guides 2, thereby achieving heat-dissipation.

To enhance the effectiveness of heat-dissipation, the first embodimentof the heat-dissipating garment further includes four third airflowguides 6 that are disposed in the third channel 19 and that haverespective airflow inlets 61 and airflow outlets 62. In particular, twoof the third airflow guides 6 extend in the third channel 19respectively from the side portions 5 to the front-right portion 132 andthe front-left portion 131, respectively. The remaining two of the thirdairflow guides 6 extend in the third channel 19 respectively from theside portions 5 to the rear portion 14. Specifically, the airflow inlets61 of two of the third airflow guides 6 flank the upper end of one ofthe second channels 18, which corresponds to one of the armpits of thewearer in position, and the airflow inlets 61 of the other two of thethird airflow guides 6 flank the upper end of the other one of thesecond channels 18, which corresponds to the other one of the armpits ofthe wearer in position. Further, the airflow outlets 62 of the thirdairflow guides 6 correspond to the chest and the back of the wearer.With such configuration, the third channel 19 corresponding to theabovementioned body parts that sweat heavily may not be blocked, and,the airflow within the garment may flow smoothly, thereby achievingbetter heat-dissipation.

Moreover, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 7, each of the first, second and thirdairflow guides 2, 3, 6 of the first embodiment is a duct constituted bya plurality of duct components 7 that are separably connected to oneanother in succession. Each of the duct components 7 includes a ductbody 71, and a pair of connecting components 72 disposed at oppositesides of the duct body 71. Each of the connecting components 72 has amale structure 73 on one side, and a female structure 74 on the otherside for matching and connecting to the male structure 73 of anotherconnecting component 72. Therefore, the first, second and third airflowguides 2, 3, 6 may respectively have desired lengths and shapes byinterconnecting a desired number of the duct components 7 with thedesired shapes.

The controller 5 in this embodiment is disposed in the lower portion 16of the clothing main body 1. The controller 5 is electrically connectedto the fans 4 for controlling rotational speed of the fans 4. A powersource 52, such as a rechargeable battery, may be further provided inthe lower portion 16 for supply of electricity to the fans 4 and thecontroller 5.

Referring further to FIGS. 1 and 4, the first embodiment of theheat-dissipating garment further includes a first connecting member 133that is disposed at the front-left part 131 and the front-right part 132for interconnecting separably the front-left part 131 and thefront-right part 132. The first embodiment of the heat-dissipatinggarment further includes a second connecting member 161 that is disposedamong the front-left part 131, the front-right part 132, the rearportion 14, the side portions 15 and the lower portion 16 for connectingseparably the lower portion 16 to the front-left part 131, thefront-right part 132, the rear portion 14 and the side portions 15 suchthat the lower portion 16, where the fans 4, the controller 5 and thepower source 52 are disposed, may be separated from the clothing mainbody 1 to ensure safety in case that the heat-dissipating garment iswashed. Each of the first and second connecting members 133, 161 in thisembodiment may be a zipper, a hook-and-loop fastener or other connectingelements as long as the same effect can be achieved.

Referring to FIG. 2, the clothing main body 1 in this embodiment furtherincludes a plurality of protruding members 10 that are disposed in thefirst, second and third channels 17, 18, 19 and that protrude from innersurfaces respectively of the outer layer 11 and the lining 12 which faceeach other. The protruding members 10 are configured for spacing theouter layer 11 and the lining 12 apart so as to prevent blocking of thefirst, second and third channels 17, 18, 19.

To further enhance the effectiveness of heat dissipation, the firstembodiment of the heat-dissipating garment as shown in FIG. 1 may alsoinclude two cooling chips 50 that are disposed respectively on the airpipes 42 of the fans 4 and that are controlled by the controller 5.Particularly, each of the cooling chips 50 has a cold side that isattached to an outer surface of the air pipe 42 of a respective one ofthe fans 4 so as to lower the temperature of the airflow from therespective airflow access 42 toward the corresponding second airflowguide 3. The power source 52 is connected electrically to the coolingchips 50 for providing electric power to the cooling chips 50. Thecontroller 5 is connected electrically to the cooling chips 50 forcontrolling temperature of the cold sides.

Moreover, each of the cooling chips 50 has a hot side opposite to thecold side. When the cooling ship 50 is in operation, current flow bringsthe heat from cold side to the hot side, so that the cold side getscooler while the hot side gets hotter. Therefore, in order to improvethe performance of the cooling chips 50, the heat-dissipating garmentfurther includes two heat sinks 51 that are attached respectively to thehot sides of the cooling chips 50. As a result, the hot sides may remainat ambient temperature such that the heat keeps flowing from the coldsides to the hot sides, and the temperature at the cold sides may bekept low.

The heat-dissipating garment may further include a user operating unit162 that is mounted on the lower portion 16 of the clothing main body 1as shown in FIG. 1 and that allows manual control of the controller 5.The user operating unit 162 has, for example, two operating panels (notshown) for controlling respectively the temperature of the cold sides ofthe cooling chips 50 and the rotational speed of the fans 4. Bycontrolling cooperatively the two factors mentioned above, the wearermay conveniently obtain a desired temperature. Furthermore, theheat-dissipating garment may include optionally a remote controller 100,as shown in FIG. 3, for controlling remotely the controller 5 to enableoperations of the fans 4 and the cooling chips 50, respectively. Forexample, the remote controller 100 may be a smart phone withremote-control function or a universal remote controller.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 8 to 10, the first embodiment of theheat-dissipating garment may further include two engaging members 9 thatare mounted respectively to the fans 4. Each of the engaging members 9is adapted to engage an external pipe 200 that provides cool air.Specifically, each engaging member 9 includes an engaging ring 91, andis formed with a pair of through holes 92 at diametrically oppositesides of the engaging ring 91. The through holes 92 of the engagingmember 9 are to be registered with two connecting holes 43 formed on aperiphery of the airflow access 41 of the respective fan 4, such thatthe engaging member 9 is fastened removably to the respective fan 4while an opening 910 of the engaging ring 91 is registered with theairflow access 41 of the respective fan 4. Each engaging member furtherincludes three resilient plates 93 that protrude from an inner surfaceof the engaging ring 91 into the opening 910.

When an engaging portion 201 of the external pipe 200 is inserted intothe opening 910 of the engaging ring 91, the resilient plates 93 arefirst pressed by the engaging portion 201 of the external pipe 200 andthen snap respectively into three grooves 202 that are formed at anouter surface of the engaging portion 201, so that the engaging portion201 engages removably the engaging member 9. Accordingly, cold airflowgenerated by a cold air generating apparatus (e.g., an air conditioner)may be directed to the fans 4 through the external pipes 200, and may befurther be guided in sequence sequentially to the second, third andfirst airflow guides 3, 6, 2 by propulsion of the fans 4. As a result,effectiveness of heat dissipation of the heat-dissipating garment isimproved.

The external pipe 200 can be removed from the engaging member 9 bysimply rotating the engaging portion 201 of the external pipe 200 in adirection as indicated by an arrow in FIG. 10. Accordingly, theresilient plates 93 are urged to exit the grooves 202 of the engagingportion 201, and thus, the engaging portion 201 is disengaged from theengaging ring 91.

Referring to FIG. 11, the first embodiment of the heat-dissipatinggarment may further include three airflow exhausting pipes 101 and amain pipe 102. Each of the airflow exhausting pipes 101 has one end 1011that corresponds to and is in spatial communication with the loweropening 21 of a respective one of the first airglow guides 2, and theother end 1012 that is in spatial communication with one end 1021 of themain pipe 102. The other end 1022 of the main pipe 102 is configured forconnecting to an air purifying device 300. The airflow discharged fromthe lower openings 21 of the first airflow guides 2 flows through theairflow exhausting pipes 101 and the main pipe 102 into the airpurifying device 300, and is purified by and discharged from the airpurifying device 300. With such configuration, the wearer who works inan unventilated space (e.g., a factory) may not be affected by thedischarged heat, and an air quality in the unventilated space may beimproved.

Referring to FIG. 12, a second embodiment of the heat-dissipatinggarment of the present invention is shown to be similar to the firstembodiment. The difference resides in that each of the first, second andthird airflow guides 2′, 3′, 6′ in this embodiment has a differentstructure, is formed in one-piece, and is flexible. Referring further toFIGS. 13 and 14, each of the first, second and third airflow guides 2′,3′, 6′ includes a base plate 81, plural pairs of wing components 82, andplural pairs of protruding plates 83. Specifically, the base plate 81 isattached to the lining 12 of the heat-dissipating garment, and has twoopposite edges extending along a corresponding one of the first, secondand third channels 17, 18, 19. As for each pair of the protruding plates83, the protruding plates 83 protrude respectively from the edges of thebase plate 81 toward the outer layer 11. The protruding plates 83 arearranged along the two opposite edges of the base plate 81, andcooperate with the base plate 81 and the outer layer 11 to define an airpassageway 84 thereamong. As for each pair of the wing components 82,the wing components 82 extend respectively from the edges of the baseplate 81 away from the air passageway 84, and are sewn onto the lining12.

Similarly, the airflow generated by the fans 4 may be guided to thethird channel 19 through the second airflow guides 3′, and may carry themoisture and heat excreted by the wearer, particularly on the chest, theback or the armpits, to exit the clothing main body 1 through the thirdand first airflow guides 6′, 2′, thereby achieving heat-dissipation.

Referring to FIG. 15, a third embodiment of the heat-dissipating garmentof the present invention is shown to be similar to the first embodiment.The difference resides in that the heat-dissipating garment is a vestformed into a single piece. In particular, the front portion 13′ of theclothing main body 1′ in this embodiment cannot be separated into twoparts, and is formed, between the outer layer 11 and the lining 12, withonly one upright-extending first channel 17. Therefore, the frontportion 13′ is provided with only one first airflow guide 2 that isdisposed in the first channel 17.

To conclude, some advantages of the heat-dissipating garment accordingto the present invention are as follows:

1. When the heat-dissipating garment of the present invention is worn bythe wearer, the third channel 19 extends along the body parts that arelikely to perspire heavily, such as the chest, the back, the armpits,etc. As a result, more effective heat dissipation may be achieved forthose body parts.

2. The configurations of the first, second and third airflow guides 2,2′, 3, 3′, 6, 6′ disposed within the first, second and third channels17, 18, 19 may improve transmission efficiency of the airflow, therebyimproving effectiveness of heat dissipation.

3. By virtue of the cooling chips 50, the heat sinks 51 and the externalpipe 200, the effectiveness of heat dissipation may be further enhanced.

4. By virtue of the airflow exhausting pipes 101 and the main pipe 102that are connected between the first airflow guides 2, 2′ and the airpurifying device 300, discharged heat may be purified such that airquality may be improved.

While the present invention has been described in connection with whatare considered the most practical embodiments, it is understood thatthis invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiment s but isintended to cover various arrangements included within the spirit andscope of the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all suchmodifications and equivalent arrangements.

What is claimed is:
 1. A heat-dissipating garment comprising: a clothingmain body including an outer layer and a lining, and having a frontportion, a rear portion, and a pair of side portions that arerespectively connected between said front portion and said rear portionand between said front portion and said rear portion, said clothing mainbody being formed with at least two upright-extending first channelsthat are formed respectively at said front portion and said rear portionbetween said outer layer and said lining, two upright-extending secondchannels that are formed respectively at said side portions between saidouter layer and said lining, and a transversely-extending third channelthat is connected to upper ends respectively of said first and secondchannels and that is in spatial communication with said first and secondchannels; at least two first airflow guides disposed respectively insaid first channels and having respective lower openings; two secondairflow guides disposed respectively in said second channels and havingrespective lower openings; two fans corresponding respectively to saidlower openings of said second airflow guides for producing airflow thatflows through said lower openings of said second airflow guides intosaid second airflow guides toward said third channel, that flows throughsaid third channel toward said first airflow guides, and that isdischarged from said clothing main body through said lower openings ofsaid first airflow guides; and a controller electrically connected tosaid fans to control rotational speed of said fans.
 2. Theheat-dissipating garment as claimed in claim 1, wherein said frontportion of said clothing main body has a front-right part and afront-left part, and said side portions are respectively connectedbetween said front-right part and said rear portion and between saidfront-left part and said rear portion, wherein said heat-dissipatinggarment comprises three of said upright-extending first channels formedrespectively at said front-right part, said front-left part and saidrear portion, and three of said first airflow guides disposedrespectively in said first channels.
 3. The heat-dissipating garment asclaimed in claim 2, wherein said clothing main body further has a lowerportion that is connected among said front-right part, said front-leftpart, said rear portion and said side portions, and said fans and saidcontroller are disposed in said lower portion.
 4. The heat-dissipatinggarment as claimed in claim 3, further comprising a connecting memberthat is disposed among said front-left part, said front-right part, saidrear portion, said side portions and said lower portion for connectingseparably said lower portion to said front-left part, said front-rightpart, said rear portion and said side portions.
 5. The heat-dissipatinggarment as claimed in claim 4, wherein said connecting member is one ofa zipper and a hook-and-loop fastener.
 6. The heat-dissipating garmentas claimed in claim 2, further comprising a connecting member that isdisposed at said front-left part and said front-right part forinterconnecting separably said front-left part and said front-rightpart.
 7. The heat-dissipating garment as claimed in claim 6, whereinsaid connecting member is one of a zipper and a hook-and-loop fastener.8. The heat-dissipating garment as claimed in claim 1, furthercomprising two cooling chips disposed respectively on said fans, whereineach of said cooling chips has a cold side that is attached to arespective one of said fans, and said controller is connectedelectrically to said cooling chips for providing electric power to saidcooling chips and for controlling temperature of said cold sides.
 9. Theheat-dissipating garment as claimed in claim 8, wherein each of saidcooling chips further has a hot side opposite to said cold side, andsaid heat-dissipating garment further comprises two heat sinks that areattached respectively to said hot sides.
 10. The heat-dissipatinggarment as claimed in claim 8, further comprising a remote controllerfor controlling remotely said controller to enable operations of saidfans and said cooling chips, respectively.
 11. The heat-dissipatinggarment as claimed in claim 1, wherein said clothing main body furtherincludes a plurality of protruding members that are disposed in saidfirst, second and third channels and that protrude from inner surfacesrespectively of said outer layer and said lining that face each other.12. The heat-dissipating garment as claimed in claim 1, furthercomprising four third airflow guides which are disposed in said thirdchannels, two of which flank said upper end of one of said secondchannels, and the other two of which flank said upper end of the otherone of said second channels.
 13. The heat-dissipating garment as claimedin claim 12, wherein each of said first, second and third airflow guidesis a duct constituted by a plurality of duct components that areseparably connected to one another in succession.
 14. Theheat-dissipating garment as claimed in claim 12, wherein each of saidfirst, second and third airflow guides includes: a base plate attachedto said lining and having two opposite edges extending along acorresponding one of said first, second and third channels; at least twoprotruding plates protruding respectively from said edges of said baseplate toward said outer layer, and cooperating with said base plate andsaid outer layer to define an air passageway; and at least two wingcomponents extending respectively from said edges of said base plateaway from said air passageway, and being sewn onto said lining.
 15. Theheat-dissipating garment as claimed in claim 1, further comprising twoengaging members which are mounted respectively to said fans, each ofsaid engaging members being adapted to engage an external pipe providingcool air, such that the cool air is directed into said second airflowguides by said fans.
 16. The heat-dissipating garment as claimed inclaim 1, further comprising at least two airflow exhausting pipes and amain pipe, wherein each of said airflow exhausting pipes has one endthat corresponds to and is in spatial communication with said loweropening of a respective one of said first airglow guides, and the otherend that is in spatial communication with one end of said main pipe, theother end of said main pipe being configured for connecting to an airpurifying device.
 17. The heat-dissipating garment as claimed in claim1, wherein said clothing main body further has a lower portion that isconnected among said front portion, said rear portion and said sideportions, and said fans and said controller are disposed in said lowerportion.